Secretaries Day

I'm not sure what it is about this outfit, but it makes me feel like a secretary. Can anyone else pinpoint what it is? Regardless, I really enjoyed wearing this outfit. (Do I say that about everything I wear?) This blouse is such a beauty. I got it from Anthropologie a few years ago, and I remember various friends were appalled when I told them I paid $40 for what is essentially a tank top. But what a versatile tank top it is! It goes with everything: jeans, shorts, casual skirts, dressy skirts, dressy pants...it has more than earned its keep. Plus, when I saw the fun but tasteful ruffles on the front, I was sold.

Top: Anthropologie

Skirt: thrifted from Rerun

Shoes: Macy's

Purse: thrifted from The Dig

Belt: thrifted from Goodwill

Jewelry: gifts

Shoe lust: Jeffrey Campbell

I have a bit of an obsession with Jeffrey Campbell's shoes. Shoes are such an important wardrobe piece, and they're one that I like to have fun with! I'm always drawn to sculptural shoes that look like works of art. (Even if I can't afford them!) Currently I only have one pair of Jeffrey Campbell's, but I'm lusting after several more. If only I had an extra thousand dollars I could spend on a few pairs of his shoes! Here are some of my faves:

 Zip-2 Wedge Bootie

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The Tick Paint Shoe

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The Hudgens Strapped Sandal

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Lita Platform Boot

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The Tick Chain Shoe

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The Ad Long Brogue

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Pixie

(My absolute favorite!)

I'm curious: How do you feel about shoes - do you want them to be eye-catching, or do you just want them to do their job and keep you comfortable? And most importantly - would you wear any of these?!

Simplicity

For hot weather days, I follow a simple formula: dress + belt + sandals = done. This dress is another one of those vintage beauties I've had buried in my closet for a few years, and have only worn a couple times. Today felt right for it. I didn't want to add a belt because it was so dang hot (finally!), but I would have looked like a shapeless blob otherwise. Literally as soon as I stepped out of the apartment building, two guys told me they liked my dress. (One of them even said I was cute. Sorry boys, I'm taken.) Another guy complimented me later on, and two salesgirls at Anthropologie showed some love to the dress too. Apparently it's a popular piece, which means I will definitely be wearing it again! I'm especially taken with the bright red pockets - they're so cute, and I love the tiny rickrack around the edges.

Dress: vintage

Shoes: Casita wedges from Blowfish Shoes

Belt: free from aunt

Purse: thrifted

Earrings: B. Lee Designs

Bangle: H&M

Third time's a charm

We tried to take outfit pictures at lunch while I was wearing a different outfit, but the sun was too bright. We tried to take outfit photos again with this outfit before dinner, after driving up to the Rose Garden, but the camera battery died. Finally, after I had a bit of a temper tantrum, we took these pictures on the roof, and I freaking love them. Obviously, the third time was the charm. To quote Winston Churchill: "Never give up." I may not be able to achieve something epic like winning World War II, but at least I can take some good outfit photos.

Blouse: thrifted from House of Vintage
Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft
Platform sandals: thrifted from House of Vintage
Purse: thrifted from The Dig
Bracelets: H&M (gold bangles) and gifts (brown bracelets)

Why yes, the ballet is in town

If by "ballet" you mean "Stacey wearing what is essentially a color-blocked tutu" then yes, the ballet is in town. I don't think these photos convey just how puffy this skirt is. I love it. It makes me feel child-like. It also definitely makes me feel like a ballerina, especially with the black tank top and headband. For something so simple and pattern-less, this skirt is shockingly loud, so I tried to keep everything else fairly simple.

Tank top: Target
Skirt: Forever 21 brand, thrifted from Crossroads Trading Co.
Shoes: Lulu's
Headband: Forever 21
Bracelets: H&M and Charlotte Russe

You win some, you lose some

First off, let's talk about this amazing building behind me. It's a Catholic school on the way to our church. I can't believe something this grandiose exists in Portland. We weren't sure if we were trespassing by taking these pictures (we even parked in their parking lot) and at one point Josh looked horrified and said, "Oh no! There's a bunch of nuns coming towards us, and they look angry!" Of course I turned around to look, and of course he was joking. He said he would have kept taking pictures, though, while the nuns kicked us off the property.

This is another vintage dress that I love but for the length. I'm thinking about chopping a few inches off the bottom. What I wish I could get rid of is the odd lumpy bit of fabric that sticks up around my stomach. I don't know what causes it, but it just looks awkward. When I asked Josh what he thought I should title this post, he suggested "Catholic schoolgirl with a third boob." Unfortunately, the bunchy fabric really does look like I have a third boob in some of these pictures. Oh well - you win some, you lose some, right? Awesome backdrop: win. Third boob: lose.

Dress: vintage
Shoes: Jessica Simpson Dany platforms from Macy's
Belt: thrifted from Rerun
Necklace: B. Lee Designs

American Dream Bingo

I don't have a clue what "American Dream Bingo" is, but I loved the retro feel of the sign, and thought it went well with my overall vintage look. I have mixed feelings about this dress. On the one hand, I love the pattern. On the other hand, it's a little too big and is unflatteringly long. I'm not very good at taking in the sides of garments, but I bet I could hem it. I think that might give it a more modern feel. I was so excited to finally use the bag I got at the Expo antiques show. Sometimes I don't think through my purchases very well, especially if they're inexpensive - turns out, not much goes with a green and red bag. Except maybe Christmas sweaters. You better believe this baby will be popping up at any ugly Christmas sweater parties I attend this winter.

Sorry for the lack of continuity in the lighting and backdrops of these photos; we took them in several locations all right next to each other, and I loved some from every location!

Dress: vintage, can't remember where I got it
Shoes: Madden Girl via Macy's
Purse: vintage, from the Expo antiques show
Belt: thrifted from Goodwill
Earrings: gift from aunt

Simple summer

This is the perfect simple outfit for doing summery things: visiting the beach, going to the farmer's market, having a picnic in the park. Unfortunately, it's been too cold here to do any of that, and I only wore this outfit because I looked outside and saw blue sky. I kind of froze my bum off taking these pictures. I loved this outfit, but I probably should have saved it for August. (It's going to get warm in August, right Oregon?)

Do you like my tacky Mexican briefcase/purse? It even has "Mexico" embroidered at the top in case anyone wonders where I got it. Except I didn't get it in Mexico. I got it at a thrift store in North Portland. For three dollars. I think it would have cost me more in Mexico.

Blouse: vintage, from the antiques show at the Expo Center

Shorts: Ann Taylor Loft

Shoes: Target

Belt: Gap

Purse: thrifted from Rerun

Earrings: Simply Jo Designs

Necklace: gift shop at Legacy Emanuel Hospital

Old Man Winter

If you live in the Northwest, then you feel my pain: this July has felt like winter. (I'm allowed to exaggerate when I'm complaining, right?) I mean, sixty degrees and rainy? Get with the program, summer. When "blah" weather hits, I turn to my comfort clothes, jeans. Normally I'd just throw on a t-shirt and sweatshirt, but since I started this blog I've been much more conscious of what I wear, so I decided to add a touch of class to my comfort. I like to call this look "old man comfort." The blazer feels a little old man-ish, but the hat is really what did it. If I had a pair of tweed pants, I'd fit right in with all the old dons at Oxford.

Jacket: thrifted from The Dig

Tee: Target

Jeans: Gap

Boots: Aldo

Bag: Ralph Lauren thrifted from Rerun

Hat: stolen...er...borrowed from my dad

Belt: H&M

Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelets: Charlotte Russe

The Wannabe Time Traveler's Wife

Let's get one thing straight: I haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife. I'm basing the title purely off the fact that my outfit felt explorer-ish, and that Josh and I had a conversation about time travel yesterday when I wore it. Among the many facets of time travel we discussed, we pondered who we would like to meet if time travel were possible. Josh said he would just like to be invisible and watch people from hundreds of years ago go about their daily business. (Creepy much?) I decided that I would like to sit down and have conversations with the following people: J.R.R. Tolkien (love me some Lord of the Rings), Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, Audrey Hepburn, Hitler (be honest - wouldn't you?), C.S. Lewis, and Abbott and Costello. Who would you like to meet if time travel were possible?

And now back to my outfit...I got these high-waisted H&M jean shorts at Crossroads Trading Co. this past weekend. I've been wanting a pair of high-waisted flare jeans, but thought these would do in the meantime. I love how old-fashioned they make me look, and I super love that they accentuate my waist. But I'll be honest - these things are a big ol' pain to put on! The tiniest part of the shorts, the waist, has to fit over the biggest part of my body, my bum. It takes a lot of finagling to get them on, but they're very comfy to walk around in. Not so much to sit in. I may have spent the afternoon watching TV on the couch with my shorts unzipped. Yes, I know how to bring the classiness.

Blouse: Anthropologie
Shorts: H&M brand thrifted from Crossroads Trading Co.
Shoes: Target
Hat: gift from my dad, from York, England
Necklace: vintage brooch, from my mom
Belt: free from aunt
Purse: thrifted from the dollar bin at The Dig

Deceived

Apparently all those episodes of Project Runway that I have "forced" Josh to watch with me have really done a number on him. On Saturday, when I put on a chunky blue necklace with this dress and asked what he thought, he said, "I think you should go with earrings instead. Keep it simple. You don't want to cover up the drapey neckline on that dress." I guess I have my own personal Tim Gunn-esq stylist now, which is cool. And he was right about the necklace. Husband knows his stuff.

I wore this dress to my cousin's baby shower on Saturday. The irony is that it's actually a maternity dress. Darn you, Target, and your endless clearance racks that aren't clearly marked as maternity. I picked it up, took it into the fitting room, and only then realized that it was maternity. But I tried it on, loved it, and bought it anyway, because I honestly couldn't figure out what made it maternity in the first place. The stretchy waist? But tons of my dresses and skirts have stretchy waists - does this mean I own a crapload of maternity clothes without even knowing it? At least I'll be covered if I'm ever pregnant.

Dress: Target

Heels: Lulu's

Belt: thrifted from Goodwill

Earrings: B. Lee Designs

Bracelet: gift from husband, from Kanelstrand